Located on the Mt. Rose Highway, 30 minutes from Reno is the oldest non-profit ski and snowboard training facility in America, Sky Tavern. Since 1948, tens of thousands of kids have been taught skiing and snowboarding with some going on to greatness as members of the US Ski Team. Tamara McKinney and Reno's first Olympic Gold Medalist, David Wise, both got their skiing starts at Sky Tavern as have many more champions!
Sky Tavern is best known for the Junior Ski Program, a volunteer staffed program, operating winter weekends with the parents helping for a few hours. Some parents are instructors, while others work in support roles such as the cafeteria, lift lines or other positions. Sky Tavern may best be described as a co-op. Parent and other adults giving up time, talent and treasure to run a training ski area for the kids.
Sky Tavern has a large number of certified ski and snowboard instructors and coaches that oversee all training. Lessons range from first time on the snow to advance all mountain and alpine racing. Instruction starts at age three for kids with parents joining or nine for kids wanting to come up on the bus program and continues through high school ages. And yes, there are even lessons for Mom and Dad!
